Volume 8, Number 2, p.p. 37–41
Influence of simulated acidic precipitation on antioxidative substances in the leaves of Georgian wheats
Eva Chkhubianishvili, Nani Kacharava, Gulnara Badridze, Shota Chanishvili, Lamara Mazanishvili
and Nana Janukashvili
Tbilisi Botanical Garden and Institute of Botany, Kojori Road 1, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia
The effect of acidic precipitation (H2SO4:HNO3 (2:1), pH 2.5) on the activity of antioxidative enzymes (catalase and peroxidase), and on the content of antioxidants (tocopherol, ascorbic acid, carotenoids and anthocyanins) has been studied in wheat species: Triticum aestivum L., T. macha Dek. et Men., T. monococcum L., T. timopheevi Zhuk., and three varieties of T. persicum Zhuk. (stramineum, fuliginosum and rubiginosum). It was established that the activity of peroxidase increased in the leaves of the winter species, but decreased in the spring forms, compared with the control plants. Increased acidity caused a slight activation of catalase. Acid spraying stimulated the synthesis of ascorbic acid, carotenoids and anthocyanins in most of the studied species, while the effect on tocopherol synthesis was negative. Acidic stress depressed the synthesis of anthocyanins only in the experimental species with a high content of these pigments in the control variants. The experiments demonstrate the protective rôle of the antioxidative system in the adaptation of plants during acid stress.
Keywords:
acid spraying, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, catalase, peroxidase, tocopherol